Val Chmerkovskiy Suspended From Dancing With the Stars Over Judge Remarks
Dancing with the Stars professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy has received a one-week suspension from the ABC reality competition series following a controversial social media post directed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba. The production company BBC Studios announced the suspension on Oct. 17, 2026, marking the first time in the show’s history that a professional dancer has been suspended. Chmerkovskiy will miss the Oct. 20 Dedication Night episode of Season 35.
Social Media Post and Oscars Reference Spark Backlash
The controversy began after the Oct. 13 episode when Chmerkovskiy posted a message on his TikTok story appearing to reference Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards. Chmerkovskiy wrote, You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,
in reaction to critiques judge Carrie Ann Inaba gave his wife, fellow pro Jenna Johnson, regarding her performance with partner Harry Shum Jr. Inaba responded to the remark on her own Instagram account by writing, So this is what we are doing now?
When Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, Smith shouted at the host to keep his wife’s name out of his mouth.
‘DWTS’: Arrogant pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy threatens to slap Carrie Ann Inaba while defending wife Jenna Johnson from correct judge’s criticism.There we go, I fixed the title for you! https://t.co/Rmkj0aYM2C
BBC Studios Enforces Workplace Standards
BBC Studios addressed the incident by issuing a formal statement regarding the suspension to industry outlets. The well-being of everyone who works on Dancing with the Stars is non-negotiable,
the production company stated. Val’s social media post was inappropriate and does not reflect the values or standards expected of anyone connected with the show. As a result, he will not participate in next week’s show.
In Chmerkovskiy’s absence for the Oct. 20 broadcast, his celebrity partner Jenna Dewan will be paired with professional dancer Alan Bersten, according to USA Today. Bersten was eliminated earlier this season alongside Giada De Laurentiis.
Public Apologies and Direct Outreach to Inaba
Following the backlash, Chmerkovskiy removed the post and issued public apologies through Instagram Stories and statements provided to media outlets. In a moment where my instinct was to defend my wife, I made a poor decision to reference a meme to ‘keep my wife’s name’ out of the conversation, without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply, which was genuinely never my intention,
he wrote. He confirmed that he reached out to Inaba directly to apologize for the incident, adding that she did not deserve to get caught in the middle of his poor judgment.
Behind-the-Scenes Reactions and Demands for Punishment
Insiders told the Daily Mail that Carrie Ann Inaba was furious about the post, calling it a threat and demanding both an apology and consequences. Sources reported that Chmerkovskiy apologized to Inaba, but because it was not enough for the judge, producers felt they had to meet in the middle and punish him. A source close to Chmerkovskiy defended him by stating that he would never do anything violent and was merely engaging in trash talk comparable to complaining about a bad call from sports referees. Meanwhile, insiders noted that the cast and crew remained split on their opinions regarding the incident.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Val Chmerkovskiy suspended from Dancing with the Stars?
BBC Studios suspended Chmerkovskiy for one week after he shared an inappropriate social media post referencing the 2022 Oscars slap in response to judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s critique of his wife, Jenna Johnson.
Who will dance with Jenna Dewan during the upcoming episode?
Professional dancer Alan Bersten will step in to partner with Jenna Dewan for the Oct. 20 Dedication Night episode while Chmerkovskiy serves his suspension, USA Today reported.
When did Val Chmerkovskiy join the ABC reality competition?
Chmerkovskiy joined the series as a pro dancer in Season 13 in 2011.